Entries Feature 14 G1 Winners for Dubai World Cup Day
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Photo: Coady Photography
Mystic Guide, winner of the Razorback Handicap, is one of three Godolphin entries in the March 27 Dubai World Cup
A cast of 14 group/grade 1 winners with a combined 23 victories at the highest level are set to line up March 27 for the 25th Dubai World Cup Day card at Meydan Racecourse.
As many as 117 horses from 11 countries will compete during a race card worth $26.5 million that features six group 1 races and three group 2 races.
The $12 million Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) held over 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) welcomes a potential 14-horse lineup headed by the highest-rated Mystic Guide, trained by Michael Stidham. The 4-year-old son of Ghostzapper is a Godolphin homebred and one of three Godolphin-owned runners in the field, including Saeed Bin Suroor-trained Gifts of Gold. The third Godolphin runner is Magny Cours, the charge of top French trainer Andre Fabre, who is making his dirt debut in the Dubai World Cup.
The Godolphin runners face stiff competition from Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) runner-up Jesus' Team for trainer Jose D'Angelo and the Miguel Silva-prepared grade 2 winner Sleepy Eyes Todd. Title Ready, winner of the Louisiana Stakes (G3) and trained by Dallas Stewart, completes the United States lineup.
Japanese interests are represented by grade 1 winner Chuwa Wizard, who claimed the Champions Cup (G1) at Chukyo Racecourse in December for trainer Ryuji Okubo, while Uruguay's Ajuste Fiscal lines up for trainer Antonio Cintra. Bahraini handler Fawzi Nass saddles a first Dubai World Cup runner with Salute The Soldier, whose route to the Dubai World Cup included victories in two of the three traditional Dubai prep races—the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G2) over 1,900 meters (about 1 3/16 miles) and the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) at the same distance as the Dubai World Cup. Great Scot, third in the Saudi Cup last month, flies the flag for Saudi Arabia and trainer Abdullah Mushrif.
A stellar renewal of the $6 million, 2,410-meter (about 1 1/2-mile) Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) seems certain with Japan's supermare, multiple grade 1 winner Chrono Genesis, who is trained by Takashi Saito, lining up against dual group 1 winner and Longines Hong Kong Vase (G1) star Mogul, who represents top international trainer Aidan O'Brien. The Bill Mott-trained four-time grade 1 winner Channel Maker will be looking to go one better following his runner-up spot to True Self in the Neom Turf Cup in February while the John Gosden-trained 2021 Saudi Cup hero Mishriff is stepping up in trip and returning to turf.
The 1,800-meter (about 1 1/8-mile) $4 million Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World (G1) features a strong United Kingdom contingent with Lord North, winner of the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) from the Gosden yard; Lord Glitters, victor of the March 6 Jebel Hatta Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) and trained by David O'Meara; the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Regal Reality, as well as the Simon Crisford-trained pair of Court House and Epic Hero all expected to run.
The $1.5 million 1,200-meter (about six-furlong) Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored by Gulf News (G1) boasts a multi-national field including the Doug O'Neill-trained Wildman Jack, who won the 2020 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint Sponsored By Arabian Adventures (G3) and fellow U.S.-based graded winner Yaupon, trained by Steve Asmussen, who seeks redemption following his unplaced Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) tilt in November. The Americans will take on Capella Stakes (G3) victor Justin, trained by Yoshito Yahagi, who renews his rivalry with Akira Murayama-trained Copano Kicking and Hideyuki Mori-conditioned Matera Sky, the winner and runner up, respectively, in the Saudi Arabian Airlines Riyadh Dirt Sprint three weeks ago.
Yaupon, winner of the 2020 Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, is likely to make his seasonal debut in the Dubai Golden Shaheen
Elsewhere on the card, Japan's Pink Kamehameha, also trained by Mori, seeks victory in the 1,900-meter $750,000 UAE Derby Sponsored by Emirates NBD (G2) having already landed the Al Rajhi Bank Saudi Derby at a mile. Stablemate France Go de Ina and the Yukihiro Kato-trained Takeru Pegasus complete a powerful Japanese challenge while Dubai World Cup Carnival star, El Patriota prepared by Cintra, represents Uruguay.
The $1 million 1,200-meter Al Quoz Sprint Sponsored by Azizi Developments (G1) on grass features Godolphin's Charlie Appleby-trained Space Blues, fresh from victory in the stc 1351 Turf Sprint in Riyadh; Dubai World Cup Carnival star Equilateral, trained by Charlie Hills; and Cowan, a slow-starting second in the Saudi Derby and another prepared by Asmussen.
Testing their staying power in the 3,200-meter (about two-mile) $750,000 Dubai Gold Cup Sponsored by Al Tayer Motors (G2) are the Prix Royal-Oak (G1) winner Subjectivist, trained by Mark Johnston; alongside group 2 winners Walderbe, trained by Germany's Ralf Rohne; the Andrew Balding-trained Spanish Mission; and Red Verdon; who is trained by Ed Dunlop.
The $750,000 Godolphin Mile Sponsored by Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City-District One (G2) features Curlin Stakes Sponsored by Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City-District One winner Parsimony, trained by O'Neill; alongside Saudi raider Urban Icon, trained by Saud Saad M Alkahtani; and a trio from the barn of multiple UAE champion trainer Doug Watson—Midnight Sands, Premier Star, and Golden Goal. Satish Seemar's Zabeel Stables also sends out three including Secret Ambition, Roman Rosso, and Tuz. The Salem Bin Ghadayer-trained Blown By Wind is set to line up with Japan's Dieu du Vin and the Suroor-trained Dubai Mirage.
The Dubai World Cup is being held behind closed doors and has a modified purse structure that will pay prize money to eighth place.